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Pasadena families facing a DCFS investigation deal with a local regional office, the Pasadena Police Department, a family court at the Pasadena Courthouse, and, if a petition is filed, the Edelman Children's Courthouse in Monterey Park.
We represent Pasadena parents from our Colorado Boulevard office, from the first contact with a social worker through every hearing.
| DCFS office | Typically the DCFS Pasadena regional office |
|---|---|
| Law enforcement | Pasadena Police Department |
| Dependency court | Edmund D. Edelman Children's Courthouse, 201 Centre Plaza Drive, Monterey Park, CA 91754 |
| Family court | Pasadena Courthouse, 300 E. Walnut Street (family law and restraining order matters are typically heard here) |
| Hospitals | Huntington Health, with pediatric referrals sometimes routed to Children's Hospital Los Angeles |
Regional office and courthouse assignments depend on your exact address and the type of case. We confirm the assignment on the first call.
Many Pasadena investigations do not stand alone. A domestic violence restraining order filed at the Pasadena Courthouse can trigger a DCFS referral, and a failure-to-protect allegation under WIC § 300(b) often follows. What a parent says in the restraining order case, and what the other parent alleges, can end up in the social worker's report.
The same is true of custody litigation. When separated parents are already in family court, a DCFS referral can become a tool in that dispute. We coordinate the dependency defense with the family law case so each strategy supports the other.
A protected parent can be investigated for failure to protect, and a restrained parent can face removal allegations. We address both the restraining order record and the WIC § 300(b) allegation together.
Unexplained injuries in infants and young children often lead to a hospital-based referral. We obtain the medical records, identify medical explanations the county has not considered, and consult independent physicians where needed.
A social worker's recommendation is reviewed by a supervisor before a petition is filed. We present information in a form that can be reviewed quickly and escalate when the facts support closing the referral.
Pasadena parents often reach us after a first conversation with a social worker. It is not too late at that point. The investigation window is usually about 30 days, and a lot can change within it.
We speak with the social worker for you, confirm what the referral actually alleges, and set terms for any interview so your words are not paraphrased into a report.
We explain your rights under the Fourth Amendment and cases like Calabretta v. Floyd (9th Cir. 1999), and when a social worker generally needs consent, a warrant, or true exigent circumstances to enter.
We read the proposed plan line by line, negotiate terms that are realistic, and push back on conditions that go beyond the actual allegation.
We assemble records, pediatric and school documentation, and witness statements that answer the allegation before a finding is made.
If removal is on the table, we press for placement with a grandparent or other relative under WIC §§ 309(d) and 361.3 rather than foster care.
We track whether a substantiated finding is being sent to the Child Abuse Central Index and request a grievance hearing when the finding is wrong.
A report reaches the DCFS hotline and is assigned to a Children's Social Worker (CSW), often within hours for an immediate-response referral. The first sign is usually a knock, a phone call, or a school or hospital staff member telling you DCFS has been contacted.
DCFS generally aims to close an emergency response investigation within about 30 days. During that window the social worker interviews the children, both parents, collateral contacts, and sometimes teachers and doctors, then decides whether the allegation is unfounded, inconclusive, or substantiated.
Instead of filing, DCFS may propose a safety plan or Voluntary Family Maintenance under WIC § 301. These are not formalities. Their terms can shape the rest of the case, so they should be reviewed by counsel before anyone signs.
If children are taken into protective custody under WIC §§ 305 or 306, the statutory clock is short. WIC §§ 313 and 315 require either release or a filed petition and a prompt detention hearing at Edelman, where the court applies the WIC § 319 standard.
At the jurisdiction hearing the county must prove the WIC § 300 allegations (WIC § 355). If it does, the disposition hearing under WIC §§ 358 and 361 decides where the children live and what services the parents must complete.
Every hearing after a petition is filed takes place at the Edelman Children's Courthouse in Monterey Park. For a guide to the building, the departments, and what to bring, see our Edelman Children's Court resource site.
Our Pasadena office is at 117 E. Colorado Blvd, Suite 600, Pasadena, CA 91105. We meet in person, by phone, or by video.
For in-depth Pasadena resources, including guides to the investigation process and local procedure, visit Pasadena CPS Lawyer.
Pasadena referrals are typically assigned to the DCFS Pasadena regional office. We confirm the assigned social worker and supervisor on the first call.
Yes. Allegations of domestic violence in a home with children often result in a DCFS referral, and the county may allege that a parent failed to protect the children under WIC § 300(b). The restraining order case and the DCFS investigation should be handled with the other in mind.
Edelman is in Monterey Park, generally a 20 to 30 minute drive from central Pasadena depending on traffic. We tell you when to arrive and where to go.
Generally a social worker needs your consent, a warrant or court order, or real exigent circumstances. You can decline entry politely and ask for the social worker's contact information so your lawyer can respond.
Do not give a detailed explanation to hospital social workers or DCFS before speaking with a lawyer. Medical conditions can mimic abuse, and the medical record needs careful review. We move quickly because hospital cases can escalate to removal.
A court-appointed attorney is assigned only after a petition is filed. Before that, during the investigation, there is no appointed lawyer. Private counsel can work to prevent the petition in the first place.
Written by the ALL Trial Lawyers dependency team and reviewed by Mohammad Abuershaid, lead attorney (California State Bar No. 297270; J.D., Cooley Law School, 2014; former Orange County Public Defender; Super Lawyers 2020 to 2026). Last reviewed September 2026.
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Attorney advertising. This page provides general information about California dependency law and is not legal advice for any specific situation. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. DCFS regional office, law enforcement, and courthouse assignments described here are typical and can vary by address and case type. ALL Trial Lawyers / Abuershaid Law, APC. Responsible attorney: Mohammad Abuershaid, SBN 297270.
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